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Donington "dangerous"
Topic Started: Jun 22 2007, 05:12 PM (695 Views)
ppparkinson9
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I'm thinking more in terms of track facilites than circuit design. Clearly World Championship aren't too bothered about track layout if it's safe, but they demand their shiny paddock, media centre and pit complexes and no UK circuit has ones to match the Tilkedromes and no one is going to put up the cash either. The money certainly exists in this country, but it's not going to be spent on Donington or any other circuit.
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The STIG
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but Parky, it's already been spent! Donnington's race control is set up for bikes, there's a very nice media centre there, and the pit complex is custom built for motorcycle racing (practically) - even to the extent of making it nearly unsuitable for the cars. And all this was done last year!

(and a picture of the pit lane is in the banner)
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ppparkinson9
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You know more about than me Stig, but this is what IRTA seem to be saying. There were certainly some comments in the Eurosport commentary.
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The STIG
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Well... as far as I can see, Donington's owners have bent over backwards to accomodate the bikes, and if they are moaning about how it isn't good enough, prehaps it's time they started looking elsewhere. as previously mentioned, it's not as if they can't afford the hire rates of other circuits.

The sad thing is though - that with the possible exception of Brands Hatch and Rockingham (haven't been to either), only Silverstone and Donington come near to having the facilities they want.
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wickedwitch
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The STIG,Jun 24 2007
04:15 PM
Well... as far as I can see, Donington's owners have bent over backwards to accomodate the bikes, and if they are moaning about how it isn't good enough, prehaps it's time they started looking elsewhere. as previously mentioned, it's not as if they can't afford the hire rates of other circuits.


You are quite correct there Stiggy!

One only has to visit race control to see how much the circuit bent over backwards to accommodate bikes.

There are lockable security coded doors at both entrances to race control, offices labelled "FIM Stewards" and "Race Director"amongst others. The FIM had a great say in what happened at Donington - if they are not happy with it then they only have themselves to blame.
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ppparkinson9
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The STIG,Jun 24 2007
03:15 PM
it's not as if they can't afford the hire rates of other circuits.


I don't think MotoGP (and F1) pay hire rates. They get paid a big fat sanctioning fee by the circuit owners.
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The STIG
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ppparkinson9,Jun 24 2007
07:11 PM
The STIG,Jun 24 2007
03:15 PM
it's not as if they can't afford the hire rates of other circuits.


I don't think MotoGP (and F1) pay hire rates. They get paid a big fat sanctioning fee by the circuit owners.

and it's THAT sort of thing which I really hate! They want to go somewhere, they can pay their way like all the other series! No matter how good the racing (or Valentino) is.
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ppparkinson9
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The STIG,Jun 24 2007
08:09 PM
ppparkinson9,Jun 24 2007
07:11 PM
The STIG,Jun 24 2007
03:15 PM
it's not as if they can't afford the hire rates of other circuits.


I don't think MotoGP (and F1) pay hire rates. They get paid a big fat sanctioning fee by the circuit owners.

and it's THAT sort of thing which I really hate! They want to go somewhere, they can pay their way like all the other series! No matter how good the racing (or Valentino) is.

I've read tales of what happened when the circuit owners had full control over MotoGP and F1 in the 1950-70's. It wasn't pretty. Perhaps the series are abusing their power now, but don't think circuits wouldn't do the same.
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vale_46
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based on my first experience of donington at the weekend i think that motogp should move somewhere else. i know the owners of donington have built new paddocks and pits and media centres ect, but from what i experienced the atmosphere around the rest of the track was a bit disappointing to me. watching motogp at donington on the tv is more exciting than actually being there (im not complaining about the racing itself thats fine it's just the atmosphere and what you eperience as a spectator).

i know motogp so they can't go to brands hatch because there is not enough run off room for the riders, but i can't see why as they have world superbikes there which go just as fast. i think if enough of the riders said they wanted to go somewhere else they would. for example last year john hopkins went round brands hatch on the 990cc bike and said it would be fantastic to race at brands hatch. also i think the spectators would enjoy the whole experience more. there has been alot of money invested in facilites at brands unlike donington.
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wickedwitch
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vale_46,Jun 26 2007
10:54 PM
based on my first experience of donington at the weekend i think that motogp should move somewhere else. i know the owners of donington have built new paddocks and pits and media centres ect, but from what i experienced the atmosphere around the rest of the track was a bit disappointing to me. watching motogp at donington on the tv is more exciting than actually being there (im not complaining about the racing itself thats fine it's just the atmosphere and what you eperience as a spectator).

i know motogp so they can't go to brands hatch because there is not enough run off room for the riders, but i can't see why as they have world superbikes there which go just as fast. i think if enough of the riders said they wanted to go somewhere else they would. for example last year john hopkins went round brands hatch on the 990cc bike and said it would be fantastic to race at brands hatch. also i think the spectators would enjoy the whole experience more. there has been alot of money invested in facilites at brands unlike donington.

I think you can put that down to the weather.

I've spectacted and marshalled at the bike GP at Donington and I can honestly say that the atmosphere was fantastic.

As for the amount of money invested, Donington have spent a HUGE amount of money in the past couple of years, all at the behest of the FIM.

Donington is now useless for anything other than bikes because of that.
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The STIG
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Theory as to why it was so slippery...

It's been very warm recently, and when that happens, more rubber goes down on the road. which is great, provided it's dry.

When you get rain ontop of rubber - it becomes very slick and smooth. result, a very slippery surface!
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ppparkinson9
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wickedwitch,Jun 26 2007
10:12 PM
Donington is now useless for anything other than bikes because of that.

They still seem able to host car races there...

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The STIG
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ppparkinson9,Jun 27 2007
06:03 PM
wickedwitch,Jun 26 2007
10:12 PM
Donington is now useless for anything other than bikes because of that.

They still seem able to host car races there...

Oh yes, it's lovely if you want to hear the sound of carbon fibre on concrete!! <sarcasm>

The garages are nice and spacious too <sarcasm>

And so much regard given to the positioning of the refueling rigs too! <sarcasm>

Wow, 3 of them!

with regards to Pit lanes, how it works (at least for cars) is thus.

It's 3 lanes - see the photo above in the banner. The part nearest to the camera is the outer (or fast) lane - the only part which is classified as part of the race track.

Across the double line is the inner lane (duh!) which is where cars will move into to slow down in preperation to enter...

The working lane (the concrete part). A safe (ha!) ish area for the mechanics to work on the cars.

Now. look at the picture. outer lane, check, inner lane, check, working lane check. so far so good yes? But what you can't see is the steps, correction, you can see one of them - right by where that wierdo is walking. These prevent the drivers from entering the working lane, at least, entering it and getting anywhere near the garages. Bikes of course, have no problem with this.

That's why hosting a race meeting where there's lots of pit action is... difficult.

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wickedwitch
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The STIG,Jun 27 2007
07:10 PM


That's why hosting a race meeting where there's lots of pit action is... difficult.

That is a masterly understatement <roflmao>
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ppparkinson9
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In defence of my ignorance, it's not often that changes actually benefit bikes over cars.

Though I'm pretty sure bike teams like operating in the biggest garages possible as well.
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